Liquid dispenser



March 962 A. J. c. FCRSYTH 3,024,946

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed June 8, 1959 INVENTOR.

ALBERT J. G. FORSYTH BY msmm United States Patent 3,024,946 LIQUIDDISPENfiER Albert J. C. Forsyth, 1045 Loma Ava, Coronado, Calif. FiledJune 8, 1959, Ser. No. 818,633 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-41) The presentinvention relates generally to dispensing devices and more particularlyto a liquid dispenser.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispenserwhich automatically dispenses a measured quantity of liquid in acomplete single cycle of action and is self-resetting after each action.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispenser havinga pump which refills after each stroke and is thus always primed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispenser inwhich the liquid delivery volume can be varied by adjusting the returnstroke of the pump through a cam and lost motion mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispenserwhich is a self-contained unit complete with liquid reservoir and whichoperates by a single action of a hand switch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispenser whichis adapted for fabrication from many different materials so that thechoice of material can be according to the dictates of availability andprice considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matterseasily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liquid dispenser whichis practicable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a liquid dispenser of theaforementioned character which is simple and convenient to install anduse and which will give generally eficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in View, this invention consistsin the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements andportions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification,particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawingswhich form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the dispenser, portions being cutaway to show internal details thereof:

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, with thepump in rest position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the pumpnear the end of the delivery stroke; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE4.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the views ofthe drawing.

The dispenser mechanism is mounted on a frame of thick sheet metal orthe like, said frame having a flat base plate 12, an upwardly extendingback plate 14 at one end of the base plate, a top plate 16 extendingfrom the upper end of said back plate on the opposite side from the baseplate, and a front plate 18 projecting downwardly from the forward edgeof said top plate. Mounted on the base plate 12 is an electric motor 29having a low speed reduction gear box 22, a drive shaft 24 extendingfrom said gear box forwardly through the back plate 14. Fixed to thedrive shaft 24 is an actuating assembly 26 comprising a somewhatcritically shaped and dimensioned member which may conveniently be inthe form of a large diameter disc 28 having a flat 30, and a cam 32projecting from the forward face of said disc. The cam 32 has a icecurved working face 34 extending from adjacent the axis of the disc 2%to the periphery of the disc substantially opposite the flat St). Theprecise shape of the cam face 34 is not critical, but for smoothoperation a face of progressively increasing radius, from the center tothe periphery of disc 28, is desirable. The cam 32 has an elongated slot36 therein extending radially of the disc 28. As illustrated, this slot36 extends through the actuating assembly 26 generally parallel to theaxis of disc 28, said slot having an enlarged portion 38 in the: rearface of the disc 28, as in FIGURE 5. Fitted through the slot 36 is areturn pin as having a head 42 which seats in the enlarged portion 33,said pin. extending parallel to the drive shaft 24 and having a shortscrew threaded portion 44 adjacent the fonvard end thereof. Mounted onthe forward end of the return pin 40 is a washer 46 having a pointer 48integral therewith, said washer being held in place by a nut 5i screwedon the threaded portion 44 and clamping the return pin in place.

Secured to the top plate 16 is a pump 52 comprising an upright cylinder54 having an internal bore 56 in which is a slidable piston 58, saidpiston having a conventional cup-like sealing washer 60 secured to theupper end thereof. The upper end of the cylinder 54 has an inlet 62 andan outlet 64 which are fitted with non-return valves 66 and 68,respectively. The valves are illustrated as simple spring biased ballvalves, but any suitable type of non-return valves may be used.Connected to the outlet valve 68 is a short delivery pipe 70 which maybe fitted with any suitable type of nozzle or spout, according torequirements. Connected to the inlet valve 66 is a supply pipe 72leading to a reservoir tank '74, which is mounted on a bracket 76secured to the back plate 14 above the motor. On the top of thereservoir tank 74 is an upwardly extending sleeve 78 which is ofsuitable diameter to support an inverted bottle 80 of a standard size,so that the lip of the bottle, indicated at $2 in FIG- URE l, issuspended above the bottom of the tank. The contents of the bottle 80then empty into the reservoir tank 74 until the level of the liquid 84reaches the lip 32, the liquid remaining constant at this level untilthe bottle is empty.

At the lower end of the piston 58 is a yoke 86 carrying a lifting roller88 which is freely rotatable on a bearing pin 90 parallel to the driveshaft 24, said lifting roller being aligned to ride on the curved face34 of cam 32. The bearing pin 9i projects forwardly of the yoke 8d andpivotally attached to said pin is a return link 92, said link having anelongated slot 94 which fits over the return pin 40.

In the front plate 18 is a bushing 96 through which is fitted anactuating rod 98 extending generally parallel to the axis of drive shaft24 and being disposed at one side of the piston 58. The rear end of theactuating rod 98 projects through a vertical slot 100 in the back plate14 and the bushing 96 is sufiiciently resilient to allow limitedswinging motion of the rod in a vertical plane. Mounted on the actuatingrod 98 is a freely rotatable control roller 102 positioned to ride onthe periphery of the disc 28. Fixed to the back plate 14 is amicroswitch 104 having a button 1% which is directly under the actuatingrod 98,

i said actuating rod being biased by a leaf spring 168 to hold saidbutton down. The leaf spring 108 may be secured to a suitable slip 110fixed to the back plate 14. The switch 104- is positioned so that thebutton 106 is held down by the actuating rod 98 when the control roller102 is resting on the hat 30 of disc 23, as in FIGURE 7.. Power issupplied to the motor 20 by an electrical wire 112, the switch Ill-tbeing connected to the mot-or by a further wire 114. The switch 104 isnormally on with the button 106 raised, but is held in the off positionby the actuating rod 93.

The mechanism is actuated by depressing the forwardiy extending end ofthe actuating rod 28, which is fitted with a suitable knob 13 .6. Thisaction lifts the rear end of the actuating rod 98 and releases thebutton 1%, causing the motor 20 to operate and turn the actuating wheel26. As the disc 28 rotates, the flat 3! passes beyond the control roller102 so that, when the actuating rod 8 is released, the control rollerrides on the circular periphery of said disc and the actuating rod isheld clear of the button 166. Rotation of the actuating wheel 26 bringsthe cam 32 around to engage the lifting roller 88, which rides on thecurved face 34 and causes the piston 58 to be pushed upwardly into thecylinder 54 as in FIGURE 4, expelling the liquid 84 therein through thedelivery pipe 70. Due to the slot 94- in the return link 92, the cam hasa period of free or lost motion relative to the link permitting the camto drive the piston upwardly during this said period. Continued rotationof the actuating wheel 26 moves the cam 32 beyond the lifting roller 88and leaves the piston 58 free, the piston being pulled downwardly by thereturn link, the return pin 40 engaging the end of the slot 94 in returnlink 92. The return stroke of the piston 58 draws more liquid 84 intothe cylinder 54, so that the cylinder is full and primed at all times.As the actuating wheel 26 completes a revolution, the fiat 30 againfalls under the control roller 102, allowing leaf spring 103 to forcethe actuating rod 98 downwardly and depress the button H36, so shuttingoff the motor 20. Thus one manual depression of the actuating rod 98initiates one complete on-off cycle of the mechanism with one completepumping and refilling stroke.

The volume of liquid' dispensed in a single stroke is controlled byadjusting the return pin 40 along the slot 36, to alter the effectiveeccentric throw of the return stroke linkage. Since the piston 58 isalways pushed to the same maximum upward position by positive action ofthe cam 32, the volumetric displacement is controlled by the length ofreturn stroke, which is adjustable by the lost motion linkage. Forconvenience, position marks 118 in suitable increments may be placed onthe face of the cam 32 for alignment of the pointer 48 therewith toindicate the volumetric displacement.

The selected volume of liquid delivered is consistently accurate as longas the supply in the reservoir tank 74 lasts. To prevent delivery of anincomplete measure due to emptiness of the tank 74, a limit switch 129may be mounted on the tank, said limit switch having a pivotal arm 122on which is a float 124, such float controlled switches beingconventional. The limit switch 120 is connected into the motor circuitto shut on the power when the liquid level falls below a predeterminedmark, the wiring involved being obvious to those skilled in the art.

As illustrated, the dispenser is adapted to serve bottled beverages orliquors, the bottles being placed directly in the reservoir. However, alarger reservoir or storage tank containing a considerable supply ofliquid may be used instead, with any type of liquid which can be handledby the pump 52.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical detailsthereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recitedobjects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved bythis invention.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the inventiondisclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to beconsidered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

A liquid dispenser, comprising: a pump having a cylinder, and a pistonslidable in the cylinder; said cylinder having an inlet and an outlet,whereby advancing said piston produces an evacuating stroke andretracting said piston produces a suction stroke; a source of liquid tobe dispensed connected to said inlet; a frame supporting said pump; amember rotatably mounted on said frame on an axis substantially normalto the axis of said piston; first cam means mounted on said member foradvancing said piston to produce an evacuating stroke, said cam having aperiod of operative engagement with said piston throughout a portion ofthe rotary movement of said member; an electric motor in drivingrelation with said member; a return link means for retracting saidpiston to produce a suction stroke, said link having a longitudinallyslotted portion; means for establishing the end of said suction stroke,said means comprising a positionable pin engaged in said slottedportion; said pin being adjustable as to its distance from the axis ofrotation of said member; means for energizing said motor, saidenergizing means comprising a normally on switch operatively connectedto said motor; an actuating arm pivotally mounted on said frame; saidactuating arm engaging said switch and being biased to hold the switchin an off position, whereby manual movement may overcome said bias andpermit said switch to energize said motor and rotate said member; meanscomprising a second cam that is circular except for a fiat thereon,mounted on said member for maintaining said motor energized until saidflat deenergizes said motor at the end of said suction stroke, saidactuating arm having a roller thereon engageable with the periphery ofsaid second cam and disposed so that said switch is held in its onposition by said circular portion, and in its off position when saidroller is engaged with said flat; said actuating arm having an extendedhandle portion for manual operation thereof; means for visuallyindicating the adjusted position of said pin, whereby volumetricdisplacement of said pump corresponding to the throw of said pin isindicated to the user; and means for disabling said motor when theliquid in said source drops below a given level.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,846,135 Mickelson Feb. 23, 1932 2,032,163 Bagby Feb. 25, 19362,245,287 Minard June 10. 1941

